Assistant Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established university seeks an Assistant Director for Alumni and Volunteer Experience to enhance alumni engagement through innovative programming and events. This role focuses on creating meaningful connections between alumni and the institution, managing travel programs, and analyzing engagement metrics. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in event planning, excellent communication skills, and a passion for fostering community among alumni. Join a dynamic team dedicated to enriching the alumni experience and supporting university initiatives, all while enjoying a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of experience in event planning or alumni relations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in creating and executing engagement programming for alumni.
• Serve as the primary contact for the Alumni Travel Program.

Skills

Event Planning

Alumni Relations

Customer Service

Communication Skills

Project Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Advanced Degree

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office Suite

Donor Relationship Management System

Job description

Department

ARD Intellectual Engagement

About the Department

Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Within the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, the Alumni and Volunteer Experience team oversees a diverse set of programs and initiatives designed to increase participation and engagement among alumni, parents, and friends of the University, with a focus on driving key University priorities. Under the direction of the Executive Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience, this team is responsible for achieving ambitious participation, engagement, and fundraising goals within the College and broader University.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience, is an integral part of a team dedicated to providing best-in-class intellectual engagement experiences to the UChicago alumni community as part of the University’s alumni engagement strategy. The position is responsible for supporting a variety of programs including the alumni travel program and the Harper Lecture series, which are designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation, and advance the objectives of the UChicago alumni office, divisional alumni initiatives, and the broader University.

This role administers programs and fundraisers designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation, and advance the objectives of the Alumni Associations, the broader University and divisional alumni initiatives. Works with the Alumni Board of Governors or other divisional groups to create and implement guidelines to govern shared interest groups through receiving a moderate level of guidance and direction.

Responsibilities

• Assists with the creation and execution of plans for intellectual engagement programming, with a focus on strengthening connections between alumni and the University; deepening alumni pride; and enhancing and expanding engagement opportunities for the global UChicago alumni community.
• Helps develop and strengthen key relationships with internal and external partners to create and execute best-in-class intellectual engagement programming.
• Serves as primary point of contact for the Alumni Travel Program, responding to all inquiries. Coordinates all alumni travel communications and promotions, including website, newsletter, and email communications.
• Helps manage external travel operator relationships, serving as primary point of contact.
• Participates in the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of alumni travel programs.
• Tracks program expenses and income, reporting on and analyzing expenses and revenue.
• Manages all alumni travel reservation and insurance data and records with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Manages the coordination of invitation lists for intellectual engagement programs. Assesses trends and presents findings. Tracks survey data and analyzes results. Makes recommendations based on these analyses. Maintains accurate and detailed records, timelines, and process documents, and updates databases regularly.
• Provides white-glove customer service to all intellectual engagement program participants.
• Leverages a variety of resources to develop and maintain a deep understanding of University priorities and faculty research. Uses this knowledge to shape intellectual programming with a focus on increasing alumni awareness of, and fluency in, University priorities.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Develops, plans, implements and maintains alumni programs and volunteer activities that connect students and alumni in any existing or new alumni clubs and formed committees.
• Establishes and maintains metrics of success and makes sure those are present in departmental strategic plans, goals setting, and the annual budget.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum two years of professional work experience in event, meeting, or conference planning; development; alumni relations; or similar field.
• Working with faculty and university leadership.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including the University's donor relationship management system.
• Proficient with Google workspace.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Competencies

• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed .
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$68,000.00 - $80,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook .

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu .Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.